Preview: Brighton v Rochdale

Rochdale boss Keith Hill feels the prospect of facing Birmingham City in the Carling Cup will bring the best out of his squad when they take on Brighton tomorrow. The second-round draw saw Dale handed an away tie at St Andrews later this month. Hill feels his players’ desire to take on top-flight opposition will benefit their cause on other fronts.

Rochdale boss Keith Hill feels the prospect of facing Birmingham City in the Carling Cup will bring the best out of his squad when they take on Brighton tomorrow.

The second-round draw saw Dale handed an away tie at St Andrews later this month. Hill feels his players’ desire to take on top-flight opposition will benefit their cause on other fronts.

"I’ve said before that the most important thing for me is how we perform in the league, but an attractive tie like Birmingham City can benefit us in the league," he said.

"I suppose it’s a bit like waiting for Christmas in that all the players will be keen to play at St Andrews.

"They will want to be on top of their game in the build-up to the cup match and earn a place in the starting XI."

While the Birmingham clash has whetted Hill’s appetite, his focus is firmly set on tomorrow’s game at the Withdean Stadium.

"Brighton have to be regarded among the favourites for promotion having invested heavily over the summer," he said. "They move into a new stadium next season and clearly they want to be in a higher division when they do.

"They have an excellent manager in Gus Poyet and I’m not trying to heap pressure on them by suggesting they are favourites – the calibre and value of the players they have recruited speaks for itself."

Former Spotland favourite Glenn Murray will line up against his old club for the first time since leaving Dale in January 2008 in a £300,000 deal. Murray is set to replace Matt Sparrow, who was sent off in the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Northampton.